The Phoenix's Second Choice

When I agreed so calmly—without resistance, without protest—both my father and Nyxar looked surprised.

Only Seraphine offered a performance of concern, her voice laced with gentle hypocrisy.

"Althea, I'm doing this for your own good. You can't twist his arm. Why don't you choose someone else? Another who suits you. If I form a contract with the black serpent, and you find a match of your own, Father can rest easy."

My father looked at her with nothing but affection in his eyes. They had known all along that the day's guests were all from the serpent clan. And among them, apart from the black serpent, there was no one of note.

I didn't bother arguing.

Lifting my hand lazily, I pointed toward a direction at random.

"Him, then."

Everyone turned to look.

The one I'd chosen was a white serpent.

In his human form, he was handsome—on par with Nyxar, even. But his spiritual energy was faint, nearly undetectable.

If the black serpent was considered low-born, the white serpent was openly mocked by the Phoenix Court.

"A glorified earthworm with snake nerves," they called him.

He could take human form, yes, but had almost no offensive power.

He looked startled when I pointed at him.

Seraphine covered her mouth, feigning worry while sneering beneath it. "Althea, you're so eager... but what if he doesn't even want you—"

"I do," the white serpent said.

Everyone was taken aback.

Even I was surprised.

He walked straight up to me, extended a pale, slender hand, and blushed as he spoke. "Princess Althea, my name is Franz."

I placed my hand in his.

It wasn't cold like I expected. There was warmth in his touch.

When he felt me respond, his grip tightened.

"If Your Highness forms a contract with me, I swear by the divine will, in this life and every life after, I will never abandon you. I will never regret it."

A crack of thunder split the sky.

Something warm surged in my chest.

Franz was the first—and across two lifetimes, the only one—who chose me without hesitation.

I couldn't stop the smile tugging at the corners of my lips.

Beside me, Nyxar interrupted the moment.

"Princess Althea," he said, voice clipped, "the white serpent is of humble origin. Choosing him will only hinder your divine refinement in the future."

Franz lowered his head slightly, shoulders folding inward with a trace of shame.

I stared at Nyxar and laughed coldly.

"What, are you jealous of him now? And tell me, if the white serpent's status is so low, does that make yours noble?"

Nyxar's smile froze. His expression twisted subtly.

And in that moment, I knew: he and I had never truly been on the same path.

In my past life, I hadn't chosen the black serpent out of blind devotion. Among all the candidates, I picked him because he once saved me in the secret realm. It had meant something to me.

But now, to gain power, he would humiliate me and climb toward my sister without a second thought. He deserved nothing from me—no more patience, no more kindness.

I turned to the crowd and made myself clear.

"From this moment on, Franz is under my protection. If anyone dares to bully him, I won't forgive it."

The clan stepped back under the force of my words, their eyes avoiding mine.

Nyxar let out a cold snort. "As long as you are happy."

Just then, Franz tugged gently at my sleeve.

I looked down. His eyes were rimmed red, lashes heavy with tears.

"You're... so kind," he whispered.

And for the first time in a long time, my heart began to race.